Published: Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 8:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 8:16 p.m.

BARTOW | Vonnie Bunch didn't know children's car seats had expiration dates. It's one of the facts she learned during a child passenger safety session Wednesday evening at Heartland for Children in Bartow.

The session was a collaboration between the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Heartland for Children, a non-profit agency that oversees the provision of foster care, adoption and case management services for children in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties.

"My youngest grandchild is 11, and I have another one who is 18," Bunch said. "They used this same car seat."

Bunch is currently caring for two girls, Chloe, 2, and Charlee, 1. She was able to trade in her outdated, 18-year-old car seat for two new ones.

Jennifer Sweet, prevention education specialist at Heartland for Children, said the replacement seats came courtesy of a $14,000 State Farm grant awarded to the agency last year. The grant allowed Heartland to purchase about 180 car seats.

According to section 316.613(1)(a) of the Florida Statutes, any federally approved child restraint device for children through 3 years old "must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child seat." However, "for children aged 4 through 5, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat belt may be used."

Earlier this week, an American Automobile Association (AAA) official criticized weak Florida legislation that could lawfully treat a 4-year-old passenger as an adult.

"Safety belts are designed for adults and do not fit properly on young children," said Kevin Bakewell, senior vice president of Tampa-based AAA – The Auto Club Group in a press release. "AAA is calling for state legislators to take action and support legislation that would protect children by requiring they be properly restrained in an appropriate safety seat through age 7."

State Sen. Anitere Flores and Rep. Keith Perry of the Florida House have each proposed revisions to Florida's child restraint law. The changes would require a separate carrier or an integrated child seat for passengers ages 4 to 7 years old, and less than 4 feet 9 inches tall. The bill has not been heard in committee in either the Florida House or Senate.

This is the 14th year AAA has advocated for this change.

"It's difficult to comprehend why the bill has not passed in previous years," Bakewell said in the release. "On matters of public safety, Florida's parents look to public policy for solid guidance."

Jennie Burton, child passenger safety technician and instructor with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, said car crashes are the leading cause of death of children ages 2 to 14 in the county.

"Anytime you see a weight or height limit on a car seat, it's a 'best practice' from the manufacturer, but it's not the law in Florida," Burton said.

She added Florida is one of two states — along with South Dakota — that do not require booster seats for children who have outgrown their car seats, but still cannot safely use an adult seat belt.

AAA, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, recommend children use a booster seat until they reach a height of 4 feet 9 inches. The booster seat allows for proper placement of a vehicle's lap and shoulder belts.

Even if the age requirements for car seats are raised, caretakers still need to know how to maximize their effectiveness.

According to NHTSA, three out of four car seats are not installed properly. Common mistakes include not having the seat face the proper direction and improper placement in relation to a vehicle's air bags.

Burton said the sheriff's office provides free car seat checks by appointment. Each car seat check includes instruction on proper installation and an inspection of the motorist's current car seat followed by recommendations based on Safe Kids Worldwide's website, safekids.org.

Other Polk County agencies with certified car seat technicians include the Auburndale Police Department, the Regency Center for Women and Infants in Winter Haven, and the Winter Haven Fire Department.

"We're looking to do car seat check about twice a year as a big event, and people can also come in daily," said Capt. Keith Witter, one of five certified child passenger safety technicians in Winter Haven's Fire Department.

He said it's just as important for an adult to feel comfortable with a car seat as it is for the child.

"There's not one specific car seat out there that works for everybody," Witter said. "It's important for adults to have a seat they feel comfortable with and know how to install."

Burton said most people are also unaware that car seats come with expiration dates, typically five to seven years after the product was manufactured.

"Sometimes the plastic can break down, especially in the Florida heat," Burton said. "Most of the time, it has to do with changes in safety standards and new technology.

"We encourage people to get a new car seat after they've passed their expiration date."

Burton has referred some of those people — like Bunch — to Sweet and Heartland for Children, which has recently placed an emphasis on child passenger safety.

"We had the State Farm grant, and we've really invested in education and training for our staff," said Kim Daugherty, chief community relations officer for Heartland for Children. "We've made this a priority."

Burton said her investigation of Bunch's 18-year-old car seat revealed the product had been recalled this week.

Kristy Wilson also participated in the Wednesday evening session with her 6-month-old daughter, Carmen.

"I can't afford to buy a new one right now," Wilson said. "So I'd probably have to get one at a yard sale, and you don't know if those have been recalled.

<p>BARTOW | Vonnie Bunch didn't know children's car seats had expiration dates. It's one of the facts she learned during a child passenger safety session Wednesday evening at Heartland for Children in Bartow.</p><p>The session was a collaboration between the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Heartland for Children, a non-profit agency that oversees the provision of foster care, adoption and case management services for children in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties. </p><p>"My youngest grandchild is 11, and I have another one who is 18," Bunch said. "They used this same car seat."</p><p>Bunch is currently caring for two girls, Chloe, 2, and Charlee, 1. She was able to trade in her outdated, 18-year-old car seat for two new ones.</p><p>Jennifer Sweet, prevention education specialist at Heartland for Children, said the replacement seats came courtesy of a $14,000 State Farm grant awarded to the agency last year. The grant allowed Heartland to purchase about 180 car seats.</p><p>According to section 316.613(1)(a) of the Florida Statutes, any federally approved child restraint device for children through 3 years old "must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child seat." However, "for children aged 4 through 5, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat belt may be used."</p><p>Earlier this week, an American Automobile Association (AAA) official criticized weak Florida legislation that could lawfully treat a 4-year-old passenger as an adult.</p><p>"Safety belts are designed for adults and do not fit properly on young children," said Kevin Bakewell, senior vice president of Tampa-based AAA – The Auto Club Group in a press release. "AAA is calling for state legislators to take action and support legislation that would protect children by requiring they be properly restrained in an appropriate safety seat through age 7."</p><p>State Sen. Anitere Flores and Rep. Keith Perry of the Florida House have each proposed revisions to Florida's child restraint law. The changes would require a separate carrier or an integrated child seat for passengers ages 4 to 7 years old, and less than 4 feet 9 inches tall. The bill has not been heard in committee in either the Florida House or Senate. </p><p>This is the 14th year AAA has advocated for this change.</p><p>"It's difficult to comprehend why the bill has not passed in previous years," Bakewell said in the release. "On matters of public safety, Florida's parents look to public policy for solid guidance."</p><p>Jennie Burton, child passenger safety technician and instructor with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, said car crashes are the leading cause of death of children ages 2 to 14 in the county.</p><p>"Anytime you see a weight or height limit on a car seat, it's a 'best practice' from the manufacturer, but it's not the law in Florida," Burton said.</p><p>She added Florida is one of two states — along with South Dakota — that do not require booster seats for children who have outgrown their car seats, but still cannot safely use an adult seat belt.</p><p>AAA, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, recommend children use a booster seat until they reach a height of 4 feet 9 inches. The booster seat allows for proper placement of a vehicle's lap and shoulder belts. </p><p>Even if the age requirements for car seats are raised, caretakers still need to know how to maximize their effectiveness.</p><p>According to NHTSA, three out of four car seats are not installed properly. Common mistakes include not having the seat face the proper direction and improper placement in relation to a vehicle's air bags.</p><p>Burton said the sheriff's office provides free car seat checks by appointment. Each car seat check includes instruction on proper installation and an inspection of the motorist's current car seat followed by recommendations based on Safe Kids Worldwide's website, safekids.org.</p><p>Other Polk County agencies with certified car seat technicians include the Auburndale Police Department, the Regency Center for Women and Infants in Winter Haven, and the Winter Haven Fire Department.</p><p>The fire department will host a free child car seat check event March 8 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Winter Haven Fire Safety Complex, 301 Ave. G SW.</p><p>"We're looking to do car seat check about twice a year as a big event, and people can also come in daily," said Capt. Keith Witter, one of five certified child passenger safety technicians in Winter Haven's Fire Department.</p><p>He said it's just as important for an adult to feel comfortable with a car seat as it is for the child.</p><p>"There's not one specific car seat out there that works for everybody," Witter said. "It's important for adults to have a seat they feel comfortable with and know how to install."</p><p>Burton said most people are also unaware that car seats come with expiration dates, typically five to seven years after the product was manufactured.</p><p>"Sometimes the plastic can break down, especially in the Florida heat," Burton said. "Most of the time, it has to do with changes in safety standards and new technology.</p><p>"We encourage people to get a new car seat after they've passed their expiration date."</p><p>Burton has referred some of those people — like Bunch — to Sweet and Heartland for Children, which has recently placed an emphasis on child passenger safety. </p><p>"We had the State Farm grant, and we've really invested in education and training for our staff," said Kim Daugherty, chief community relations officer for Heartland for Children. "We've made this a priority."</p><p>Burton said her investigation of Bunch's 18-year-old car seat revealed the product had been recalled this week.</p><p>Kristy Wilson also participated in the Wednesday evening session with her 6-month-old daughter, Carmen.</p><p>"I can't afford to buy a new one right now," Wilson said. "So I'd probably have to get one at a yard sale, and you don't know if those have been recalled.</p><p>"I'm going to know she's safe with this one."</p><p>For more information, call Jennie Burton at 863-298-6678. For information on the Winter Haven Fire Department's car seat check, call 863-291-5677.</p><p>[ John Ceballos can be reached at john.ceballos@theledger.com or 863-802-7515. ]</p>